Job Description
3-4 months contract with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• This role sits within the Shared Finance Service (SFS) and is part of a wider team collectively responsible for supporting the organisation’s ambition to add value and inspire success.
• The post holder will provide financial business partnering support across both corporate core and front-line service areas, ensuring robust financial management and the delivery of high-quality advice in a challenging financial environment.
• Acting as a critical friend, they will offer insightful analysis and strategic guidance to inform decision-making, support change initiatives, and help safeguard the financial health of the organisation.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Provide professional, high-quality finance business partnering support to service areas, covering both revenue and capital budgets.
• Deliver insightful financial analysis to inform service improvement, operational efficiency, and transformation programmes.
• Support strategic finance partners and senior budget holders across the full financial cycle: planning and budgeting, in-year monitoring, and year-end processes.
• Advise budget holders in the financial management of complex funding arrangements including capital programmes, revenue savings plans, and shared budgets (e.g., pooled funds).
• Identify and support the mitigation of financial risks, ensuring these are appropriately reflected in medium-term financial planning.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including health bodies and other public sector organisations, to promote joint working and improve financial outcomes.
• Assist with the financial aspects of funding applications, grant monitoring, and the disbursement of capital funds.
• Provide a financial perspective in service-level decision-making to support the fulfilment of statutory financial responsibilities.
• Support the management of debt, working closely with other finance and resident support teams to deliver coordinated and effective solutions.
• Represent the organisation in external meetings or forums as required, promoting best practice and safeguarding financial interests.
• Where applicable, act as the finance lead for specific strategic partnerships or funding streams such as the Better Care Fund, ensuring accurate reporting and compliance with financial requirements.
Skills/Experience:
• Proven experience of working in a financial management or business partnering role within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of public sector financial processes including budget setting, financial monitoring, and year-end closure.
• Ability to interpret and analyse complex financial information to support decision-making and drive business improvement.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Skilled in identifying financial risks and developing practical, sustainable solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results under pressure.
• Experience of working collaboratively across service areas and with partner organisations.
• Proficient in the use of financial systems and Microsoft Excel to support robust financial reporting and analysis.
Additional Information:
• Finance Business Partner to support Place Directorate.
Requirements
• Proven experience of working in a financial management or business partnering role within a complex organisation. • Strong understanding of public sector financial processes including budget setting, financial monitoring, and year-end closure. • Ability to interpret and analyse complex financial information to support decision-making and drive business improvement. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders. • Skilled in identifying financial risks and developing practical, sustainable solutions. • Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results under pressure. • Experience of working collaboratively across service areas and with partner organisations. • Proficient in the use of financial systems and Microsoft Excel to support robust financial reporting and analysis.